Requiem for the Ultimate Weapon in the Galaxy

And as we wind on down the road

Our shadows taller than our soul.

There walks a lady we all know

Who shines white light and wants to show

How everything still turns to gold.

And if you listen very hard

The tune will come to you at last.

When all are one and one is all

To be a rock and not to roll.

-Led Zeppelin

Hey All!

Just a quick word to say hello and that I´m alive. Just got done teaching three hours to students who are at ground zero. Hoder! We butchered the lyrics to Brothers in Arms (Dire Straits), Madonna's ray of light and absolutely massacred Stairway to Heaven.

And it's whispered that soon

if we all call the tune

Then the piper will lead us to reason.

¨Tuna?" Javier asked.

Yes. We all call the Tuna. Charlie? Starkist? Someone please save me from this rock and roll hell.

I drew a picture of a fish on the whiteboard and the crossed it out. The whole class was hysterical.

Friday Night was brilliant. Syd and Kristen met American Laura and we hung out at Aeria till like 4 am. Way too much to get into, but good craic.

Have a great night. Enjoy the Final Four. Tomorrow we go to the bullfights again. We'll have a champagne brunch as we watch the plane I was supposed to go home on leave at 2 pm. Then, to celebrate the month of the baby´s birth ( and intercede that it is not mine) we will watch six bulls be slaughtered as an offering. Vaya con Dios!

Out of Reach

These mist colored mountains

are a home now to me

but my home´s in the lowlands

and always will be

some day you´ll return to

your valleys and your farms

and you'll no longer burn

to be brothers in arms

-Dire Straits

I am alive and well. Still running around today putting in all my hours with the different companies so that I can get paid.

Our water heater broke, so it was cold showers all week till they fixed it yesterday. Hooray!!! Now I won´t have my balls in my mouth after a shower.

I have a ton written but forgot to save to my travel drive (I'm so clever!)

Happy today is Friday. 1st day I haven´t taught besides Sunday in three weeks or so. But i do teach 3 hours tomorrow. It´s all good.

This week is Semanna Santa (Holy Week). But basically the Spanish have just turned it into a week of partying, far different from what we know it as in the States. No classes on Thursday. I think Stuart and I are going to the South- Cadiz. He´s made all the plans, so I have no idea what to expect, but should be good craic.

It appears as if the Empire has been dealt a serious blow. Darth got fired by her job this week. They invoked at-will, which I knew they would when she tried to move back from CA. And she´s had some kind of complications, so she´s on bedrest. But things should be fine with the baby. That´s all I know.

Baby due in weeks. No husband, no job. Eek! We do lie in the beds we make but I take no joy in it. I hope it all works out, but anyone above the age of 12 could have predicted this. Still, kind of awful how it takes 30 something years to build a life and a few months to destroy it. I pray it all works out for her.

As for me - I´m dandy. I´m still rocking in the free world. Will try and post again soon.

Domingo

(Photo: Shepards Pie Dinner 13-3 , mgreco)

Welcome back my friends
to the show that never ends
we're so glad you could attend
Come inside, come inside!

-Emerson, Lake and Palmer

Lazy morning. Flatmates are all gone so the prog rock has been cranking since 11:30 (it's 2;15 now). I'm on the porch. About 60 degrees. May got to a bullfight later. Or jam with Evandro. Or just sit on my ass. Sunday lately is the only day I don't work.

"How un-Spanish" American Laura said.

It's true. we had dinner last night until about 1:30. It was a great time. She's a very intense gal - and crazy as a bedbug, but just a joy to hang out with.

I've come to the decision I'm going to play my hand as just being firends for now. If something else happens, then fine. She's kind of batshit.

She's angry, smart, political, radically liberal and talks at light speed.

She's also got a strange penchant for throwing up when we go out.

I sometimes have this effect on people.

Last night we were at this great little Spanish place in Chueca. It's all locals and you can get a three course meal with a beer for like 8 Euros.

She was drinking wine. It's the house red and it's kind of sweet and icky. And of the sudden she stops drinking and puts her glass down. She pulls something that was in the glass off of her lip. I couldn't see what it was, but she kind of laughed - choked, continued to laugh and mumbled "I'll be right back."

I look around her place mat for a carcass to do an autopsy, but couldn't find it.
She came back, sat down, and we both laughed.

She eventually found it and it was just a fuzz of something, but at first glance it looked like a highly evolved insect.

So we're walking to a bar and then she mentions that she actually threw up in the bathroom.

I laugh and tell her she seems to do this when we go out.

"When else did I throw up?"

"That night at Joy (club). You came back from the bathroom and told me you threw up in your hand. From the whiskey and soda."

"Oh my god! I totally forgot. That drink was fucking disgusting. That was your fault," she laughed.

"Now, now. You ordered that of your own volition."

"It looked good."

"It is good."

"I totally forgot about that. Oh man. I do always yak when I go out with you"

"That's okay. From the way you described it, it seemed quite dainty."

We both laughed.

"So we'll just have to go out more often if you ever want to be bolemic."

More laughter.

Then we went to this bar that's right on the main square in Chueca. People drink beer out in the open. Cross dressers and the transgendered and probably a lot of in-betweens pass by, mingling with the crusty old-timers of the Spanish old guard. It's a scene, baby. It's a scene.

Laura was plastered, so we said good-bye and we still had time to get the last Metro.

And then I stopped in to the local about 2. Roberto, JJ, and James the bartender were all there.

The bar closed at half three and I walked home with pleasant thoughts of a crazy, young, female lawyer I know from Houston swilring through my soggy brain. Ay Carumba!

Fin de Semana solo

STOLEN
You know you've sunk low

Not just another caper

A vicious body-blow

...Stealing toilet paper -Me

Viernes Evening.

Kristen and I cleaned the flat (so I can get laid, I guess). It's now
half eleven and I will head out shortly to the local.

Then teach at 12:30 pm tomorrow (sat).

Then dinner with American Laura at 9 in Chueca.

Oh, the fun the Chaos Sisters and I had in Chueca! But I can't
see drinking absinthe without Janet.

And that's the fin de semana, in a nutshell. Should be a blast.

Good to rest. So busy this week. But all is mellow and well.

Picked up another 8 hours a week today.

The warm weather came back full steam today. Glorious!

Hope you are all well.

The Witching Hour. Time to take to the street. But Kristen has
been cranking a Pat Benetar album I i dig it. A guilty pleasure.
What can I say? She was my first 'bitch in leather.'

Time to skulk into the darkness.

Spanish-English Dictionary

night falls like people into love
we generate our own light to compensate for the lack of light from above
every time we fight a cold wind blows our way,
we can learn like the trees, how to bend, how to sway and say

i, i think i understand
what all this fighting is for,
and i just want you to understand
i'm not angry anymore.
no, i'm not angry anymore.

-Ani DiFranco


My Spanish vocab is ever expanding. I have a new favorite word and phrase:

Bastoncillo!

It means Q-tip or cotton swab. You try it at home:

Bastoncillio!

Isn´t that fun? Of course it is!

My new favorite phrase is:

Chupa mis heuvos! - which means suck my balls.

Living abroad is so ecucational it´s mind bending.

I was supposed to teach four hours today but they cancelled and insetad i´ll at least get paid for an hour and a half. I also worked two hours this morn. And four more tomorrow. Today is Viernes. Muchas Gracias a Dios esta Viernes!!!!

I´ll have the flat to myself tomorrow. Kristen is going to Salamanca with Miguel, who I think she will be dating by the time they arrive home on Sunday. There are others going, but I have to work and I´m too tired. And Stuart goes to Ireland for the weekend, so just me! I can walk around naked all day! Que Bueno! I´ll send photos.

And then, god help me, I´m supposed to go out with American Laura on Saturday. That should prove interesting if it pans out. She´s a bit flakey. Must have been all the LSD she took while she was selling it in college.

On that note, Stuart and I went to the local last night to play pool. No Spanish Laura citings, I´m thrilled to say. But I did see my Spanish friend JJ, who is a pilot and about 55. He´s not flying right now because he has glaucoma. I found out last night that he grows his own marijuana, partially for his eyes (and to hear him talk he really knows what he´s doing) but mainly to give it to cancer patients because there is no medical marijuana here, even though it´s practically leagl. He´s a modern day Robin Hood! Que bueno!!

That´s all the news that´s fit to print.

Another Tricky Day

I don't know how it happened
It was faster than the eye could flick
but all I can do, is hand it to you
And your latest trick
-Dire Straits


2 postings in one day- Ay Carumba! The air on the patio is cold but feels nice on my face. The cars whoosh by. Just a lazy night on Calle Bravo Murillo. The acordian
dude is gone, so Stuart can relax.

In Plasa Castilla, they're building 3 new towers. I can see the lights
from here, so they are working tonight. Madrid is growing in leaps
and bounds. It's fucked up place, that's for sure. But at least for
now, it's home.

Here's two new ones from an arc of lyrics I am honing called GODLESS BLACK MAGIC. Enjoy! And don't forget that garlic necklace!

SOUL SACRIFICE

Steep the fires
Beat the drums
A new moon
An old sun

Release the breath
A soul akin
Embrace the death
Destroy the sin

Sacrifice a human soul
and it soars into the sky
Make a wish and you are whole
and never question why

Power begets power
nature never relents
There's dogs and there are sheep
Never second guess

I saw my soul dance off the clouds
a life to take, a life you choose
the truths you open, the lies you shroud
til you walk in another's shoes

Soul sarifice

taste the power

Soul sacrifice

GREEN SKIES IN TOLEDO
Looking out the window
Green skies in Toledo

Put your head back on the pillow
Green skies in Toledo

Deeper than grass
Green skies in Toledo

Steeped in the past
The home of El Greco

Rewound and rehashed
Green skies in Toledo

Rebooted and crashed
luck out the window

soiled and slashed
Green Skies in Toledo

Doors opened and smashed
Green Skies in Toledo

Morganna

So won't you just say good-bye
it's independence day
it's independence day
all down the line

-Bruce Springsteen


Another day of power teaching. Love it. I feel blessed and psyched to be alive.
Today is Thurs. Jueves. Hooray. I got invited by some friends of Kristens to go to Samancas, a province to the north, I believe. But I need to teach at least part of Sat. afternoon. I could take the train at 5 pm and get there by 8 pm. But American Laura asked me to go out on Sat. (ooh la la!) It'll be a game time decision.

Hope you are all kick ass. Time to eat a ham and bacon pizza. You really don't want to be a pig in Spain, trust me.

So eat- then to the local to kick ass at pool again. Then to bed.

The Seester admonished me for bringing home a strange woman.

"What the hell am I going to do with a normal one?" I asked.

I could hear her groan like Marge Simpson from across the Atlantic.

Darth's baby is due one month from today.

That was me you just heard, groaning like Marge Simpson, from across the Atlantic.


My the lord god save us from Morganna and her evil child.
- The priest
Excalibur

Adios

A Tale of Two Lauras

I'm just sitting here watching the wheels go round and round.
I really love to watch them roll
No longer riding on the merry-go-round
I just have to let it go.
-John Lennon


Where to begin? Worked 8 extra hours this weekend.

Tired, but extra hours ALWAYS come in handy. Class goes
swimmingly. Kind of amazing how the Chaos Sisters passed thru
here like a falling star. Miss them, I do. While Mel and Janet were here, I bought some cheap
oil paints. Friday night I was all ready to paint cardboard when I
remembered we had an atrocious paining behind the coach. It's a picture of this depressing, rotting town at night.

We don't have good light in our den and this painting just made it
darker and more foreboding. Our landlord is moron. Fripp (my cat) could do better
with finances than Diego. He'll never even remember what the
painting was, I figure. It was pretty beat up, but it was canvas with
a sweet frame. Out came the oil paints and the Dire Straits. Three
hours later, the canvas was a hell of a lot brighter. That's about the
only thing I can tell you with certainty. I took a photo but it's too
low resolution, so I will post a photo of it when I can.

Then I went to the Mural Bar. I won two games of pool
and then retired, no small feat as I am remedial in geometry. I met
all the regulars; JJ, Mario, that gal who is a chef next door and I
can never remember her name but remember that she loves to do
shots of tequila. It was about 1 AM when I got there. So this gal I see there all the time and I are chatting. She's dancing. I'm kind of just swaying in the hopes of looking cool.

Finally it's 3:25 and the bar is closing.This gal (who I later find out
is named Laura; different from my other friend Laura) asks if I
want to go to a nearby bar. I say sure. The problem is she gets more lost than Jesus when he
spent 40 days and nights in the desert listening to Satan jabber on.

Finally, I suggest getting a cab and he takes us there in 5 minutes. We get to the bar and I play pool and win again. I was playing these two brothers. One was a lawyer with the worst cross
eyes I've ever seen. No wonder I kicked his ass at pool! Then I
dismantled him at fooseball. People make millions of dollars a
year to catch baseballs and kick footballs and I excel at bar games.
Life can be cruel. Long story - not exactly sure how, but they wind up
following me home like lost puppy dogs (they were harmless,
mostly inebriated).

I didn't much mind Spanish Laura (as Stuart has
dubbed her as to differentiate her from my other friend, American
Laura) following me home. I told them to be fucking quiet as it
was 6:30 am and I didn't want to wake Stuart and Kristen. I was
happy to supply them with one last beer and send them on their
goddamn way. But googly eyes was loud as hell and woke up Stuart,
who thought the whole thing was awesome, and then Kristen, who
was less than pleased. Can't say I blame her.

Then she screamed when she saw googly eyes. She thought he was the Boogie man.
Stuart came out and had a part of the 40 ouncer I had in the fridge
with us. Kristen went to bed.

It was 7 and I was exhausted. "I'm going to bed," I said. The brothers left but Laura stayed, which was weird as she had just got done telling me she "loved" the bartender
at the Mural, Omar, who may or may not know she is alive.

"Good night" I said and I motioned to the door.

"I'm tired," she said.

"Go home,"

"I'm too tired."

"Well, you're welcome to stay on the lawn chair here in
the living room. It's a lot more comfortable than it looks." I have
no idea if I was speaking English or Spanish at this time.

She shook that off like a pitcher shaking off the catcher's sign for a fastball.

"Look. I need to sleep. You can sleep here or go. Hell,
you can even have half of my bed (it's like a mega queen). No
funny business. I have to sleep."

I brushed my teeth and went to bed, then Spanish Laura
did something in the bathroom. I got into bed. Then she walked into my room. "There
you go," I said pointing to the other half of the bed. She could have
been two meters away from me and still be in bed. "Goodnight."

"I go say something to Stuart." His door was closed.

"Umm..I think he's asleep." She opens his door and goes in.

"Happy Birthday, Stuart," I say to no one, and close my eyes.

Minutes later she's back in my room. "This bird's
insane," I think.

She looks around my room and goes "Uggghhh!"

Janet told me on Tuesday: "You're never going to get any booty
with this room such a mess!"

"I like to go to her place," I told Jan.

It's true, I'm a natural slob, but I had guests and worked
a million hours, so what's a poor boy to do?

Then she went into the living room. There's nothing
worth stealing out there, but I followed her.

"So tired."

"I kind of know the feeling, so sleep here or go home."

"How do I get home. Do I need a cab?"

I figured it couldn't be far if she's always at the Mural.

"Where do you live?"

"Plaza Castilla."

"Hell, that's ten minutes away."

"I need to call a cab. I don't know where I am!"

"You're on Bravo Murillo. Very close."

"No se adonde esta!"

"Calm down sister. Take it easy." I put my hand on her
shoulder. Spanish Laura is a good looking gal. Nothing ventured,
nothing gained, I figured. She was giving off more mixed signals
than a spinning satelite and I was out of ideas. I reached over to kiss
her. She quickly squirmed away, quite ungracefully, I might add.
I've seen it done much more smoothly.

"You try to kiss me? You want to fuck me?"

Now never in my entire life has a woman said that to
me, though I have dreamed of it many a time. But it was nothing
like my dream. It was more like an accusation, or a hurled vase.

"Whatever you do," I thought. "For fuck's sake, don't tell her the truth."

I tried to tell her that back in the day there was a wide
berth between kissing and fucking and sleeping, but it was lost in
translation.

So I settled on "Con permiso, Me gusta camino con
ella a su casa," or "If you like I'll happily walk you home."

Instead, for reasons I'll never understand, she said she
called her uncle. She rifled something off in Spanish and then hung
up.

Before I could walk her to the door, she insisted on
giving me her phone number and getting mine. I gave her one,
though whether it was mine or not, I can't recall.

And then, thank merciful poseidon, she left. Gloriously, I was then taken into the arms of sleep.

MOVE OVER, JOHN BONHAM

If it keeps on rainin', levee's goin' to break
-Led Zeppelin

Yesterday, I jammed with a young kid I met at the local locutrio (where we get Internet). We went to the east side of the city (East Siiiiiiiide!) and got a studio for
12 E for an hour. They had a decent kit and an amp for Evandro. The problem was the studio didn´t have any drumsticks (Malettas) and eveything is closed on Sunday except churches, bars and football stadiums. So I played with my hands and all Evandro knows is speed metal! I was sorely limited, having about nine inches less reach without sticks, but I got through it. At one point I thought I may have broken my right ring finger, but it´s fine. TO DO LIST: buy drumsticks this week. But I had a great time, and now I have a place to jam. Next Suday we´re going to try and jam with his mates. Coud there be a new metal band on the horizon? We´re already kicking around Gringo y Los Culos Mal (Whitey and the Bad Asses).

Time to teach another class! Hope your life is good today!

Mel and Jan, I miss ye.

Returning

Calle Bravo Murillo

From the point of conception

til the final drive

the point of departure

is not to arrive

-Rush

Poor poor, pitiful me.

Poor poor, pitiful me.

These young girls won't let me be

Lord have mercy on me

-Warren Zevon

The Chaos Sisters have come and gone and Madrid is all the better
for it. They got around like champs.

Last night the got to the Mural Bar, the infamous local, for a small
wedding reception with the flatmates.

I have been teaching my ass off. Literally, because I have also lost
some weight. Walking my ass off too. My beer belly is just a
shadow of its former shadow. Que Bien!

Mel and Jan also made a Shepards Pie on Tues that was to die for.

Hear you are all getting a Noreaster. All the Best. I don't miss
those fucking things, although a lot of snow is always fun. And I'm
a teacher now, so let it snow!!!! We are not going to get any snow
days in Madrid, methinks.

I worked 5 extra hours today - I got paid to eat lunch and talk with
this guy! And then 3 extra tomorrow (Sabado). And then an extra
10 hours next week. Yeah!!!!

Well, here's a Maria story. I know you all love these.

I was helping her translate some bullshit about Pakistan for some
mind numbing report she had due. I finally found something useful
and she leaned over to see the computer screen. A few minutes
later I felt her leaning on me. I thought, "Oh isn't that cute." Then I
felt it was her rack. I was like "Fucking hell!" The teacher-student
is a sacred relationship. I carefully leaned forward and extracted
my back from her boobs. Oi! These youngs girls won't let me be!
I am just a Jedi Knight trying to get by in this big, crazy ,mixed up
world.

Did I tell you this one yet? I can't remember. It's been a loco week
with going out with the gals and working so much.

I finally picked my Jedi Master name: Obi Juan.

What else did we do- I ate a lot of paella- oh yeah.
That's all, folks. Enjoy the

I dont want anybody else

When I think about you I touch myself

-the Divinyls

Faeries with Boots

It´s just a shadow of the way we should feel
Like a garden in the forest that the world would never see
-Big Country

I don´t have the magnetism of a national hero
I´m not desperate enough to carry around an A-Bomb in a bag
-Big Country


While i was working como un perro, the girls had an enchanting day in Retiro park. It was 70 degrees and they just sauntered out of coffee shops and bars all day. Que Bien!!!

Then I met them for pizza and local wine. Then off to Aeria, my favorite bar, where Jan and I sampled some Absinthe, also know as the ´Green Faerie¨ (which doesn´t even turn heads as Chueca is Madrid´s gay section). I´m not sure what the big deal is: I often see Angels fornicating on the Metro ride home.

Martes is our traditional family night, so the gals are going to cook up some dinner. I´m sure we´ll hang on the patio, and then off to the famed Mural bar.

the Seester hath Landed

Just a quick note: Mel and Jan are here (Los Hermanos Chaotica) and are safe and sound. Now they can dispel rumors that I am a hologram, a robot, possessed by the living Satan or a clever marketing scheme (although I wouldn´t have put it past me). We are all alive and well. We went downtown to Sol last night and I am off to pick them up and take them to the Athletico game tonight. Much fun to be had. Thinking of all of ye. Did anyone see the Real Madrid / Barca game yesterday. AY! A classic for the ages that ended 3-3 with a strike by Barca in the 90th minute. Melissa counted that the guy behind us in the restaurant said the word "Puta" 26 times in the first 30 minutes alone. Como es Espana (such is Spain)!

Peligroso Boxers!

Give any one species too much rope and they'll fuck it up
-Roger Waters

Ay! The class I have a for 90 minutes every day knows absolutley

no English. It's brutal. But it's coming along. Mas Despachio (very

slowly).


If I ever find I only have a couple months to live and decide I want

to make each second stretch for a quarter mile, I'll practice English

to non-English speakers over the phone. I do this too and the

minutes go on for eons. The other side of the line is a barrel of

"No entiendos (don't undertsand)."


Oh well, I'll slog through it.


Went to a bar tonight in Sol (the touristy part of town) to see

Barca play Liverpool. The atmosphere was electric. But O'connel

Street is an I rish bar, so there were lots of Liverpool supporters.

Barca won 1-0 but lost on aggregate becuase of the away goals

rule. Aggregate was 2 - 2, but Liverpool had scored both goals at

Camp Nou in Barcelona.

Sleep comes upon me: mother, brother, secret lover. Buenos

noches, mis amigos. Vaya con Dios.

Who wants to live forever?
-Queen

One of the hazzards of drying clothes on the clothesline is when

the hijos de puta are doing construction and you get wood chips

and sawdust all over your clothes. In civilized countries, we would

knock on our neighbors door and let them know. But these people

are cretins, so I was shaking wood chips out of my clothes all

morning. The dress shirts didn't bother me - but my boxers! That's

one place you don't want to get a splinter! I mean, I may want to

have kids some day.... Actually there may be one on the...Oh fuck it

I'm not even going there)

A Civil Union

So many things I think about
When I look far away
Things I know, things I wonder
Things I'd like to say
-Rush


I'm on the porch. It is cold. I guess I've been porched - put outside
til I simmer down. Actually, it's the only place to get Internet. I
taught my two new gigs today and it went well. I actually picked
up three extra hours a week, so all is groovy. The only problem is
that my class of 10 people, which I teach for 1.5 hours a day, know
less English than Fripp. This is going to be a challenge.

All else is cool. Nothing more to say. Except it's kind of sweet out
here, exposed to the elements. The rush of the cars on Calle Bravo
Murillo. The various conversations. The smell of my rancid farts.
Charming.

Mel and Janet get married tomorrow in a civil union in
Jersey, so here's all my love going out to those two, the Chaos
Sisters. See you for your honeymoon in Madrid!!! All of the
characters you've been reading about are geeked up to meet you.

If I see one more tabloid here proclaimng that Penelope Cruz the
prettiest woman at the Oscars, I am going to cut someone's throat.
Could we be a little more biased??? I always thought she was
Mexican, but Kristen and Stuart swear she is Spanish. Fair enough,
But I doubt the American critics dubbed her the most beautiful.
She was wearing a friggin' white wedding gown. Where's the
cleavage? Where's the dress sticking to your hooters with only
Miracle Whip? Where's the mystery? Where's the sizzle?

I miss the Garden of Zen and Toll Road back home. Chris, Nick
and Volker; you guys should drink some beer out there sometime
soon and look East. Make me happy, it would. I am sure the
Buddha is lonely (the Garden of Zen and Tol Road is a part of my
old back yard where I spent countless hours; these guys are my
neighbors).

Time to sleep/ Must turn down the heat- it's warm here, especially
at night. Stuart turned it up but he has shorts on, still showing off
his shaved legs. GOD HELP US!
----
Martes

I guess Stuart shaved his other leg so he can get a tatoo that will be
seen when he plays rugby. He is obsessed with Rugby. And women
- but that's at least NORMAL for a 20 year old. The rugby
fascination frightens me.

I am listening to English tapes to use for my students:

"Hamburger- it's a hamburger."
Thrilling.

Can't I just play them some Rush?

Between the Poles

4-3-07

The Lunar eclipse last night was otherwordly. It was ureal. The
moon looked like a little golf ball in the sky. Is was so much more
3-D than normal, And was an odd slivery pink. Absolutely unreal.
Never seen anything like it in my life. I had seen eclipses, but never
a full one like this. The best part was that we could see the whole
thing from our flat; Stuart, Sydney and I. It was perfectly framed
from our deck.

Then at one I went down to the Mural and saw some of the crowd.
It was fun, as always. I was in bed by 3:30, A damn decent time for Madrid.

Then today was like 22 degrees (73). The fambly: Kristen, Stuart
and I went for a walk in the park. I always take a walk on Sunday.
We saw people playing soccer, hanging out, as well as Cherry
Blossoms in full bloom. Spring has sprung in Madrid.
So tomorrow I start two new full time gigs for work. Looking
forward to it. One with Cortfiel (clothing) and the other is the bank
(Banesto). What else would you give a chicken fart about?

I feel like I've said it all before.

Take a little trip back with Father Tieresius
Listen to the old man speak of all he has been through
"For I have crossed between the poles and for me there's no mystery
Once a man, like the sea I raged
once a woman, like the earth I gave
but there is in fact more earth than sea.
-Genesis

Even Odysseus couldn't have learned a whole city in two months.

There must be something more....

Fuck it. Can't think of anything new. How bout this -

Question and answers! We'll make this thing wholly interactive,
You email questions and I answer them. That's must stare at
blogging! Please email all questions to:
El Dude Enterprises - krcfjg333@gmail.com
I will answer all questions my lawyer allows me to.

What is up with pillows in Europe? They're really long but not
very supportive. It's like trying to sleep with your head on a crepe!
It just doesn't work. All of my Euro friends out there- isn't an
American pillow more comfortable, or am I just biased?

I now have a picture of Fripp on my desktop. I miss that fuzzy little
bastard. Funny, how attached you get to an animal. They become
non-human members of the family. Even though I miss him, it's
nice to care so much about a crazy, four-legged creature.

Okay.

I am listening to some Wayward Platypus. My iPod is on shuffle.
For those who don't know: Wayward Platypus is a project my
friend Jim and I record together. He writes the music and plays
guitar and bass. I play drums and write the lyrics / concept. I am
listening to an instrumental: A chilling vision of my own fiery
death. It's a crazy time signature and the band is just tearing it up.
Our friends, Peter and Mark, helped us when we played it live.
Peter's guitar licks are ferocious and it's in a crazy time signature
that Mark kills on bass. It's been forever since I've listened to this
stuff. It's always nice when you listen back to old recordings and
you are not horrified.

Sleep is singing her siren song. Time to drift into the arms of sleep.
I miss all of you, but I am well. Hope all of you wankers out there
are doing well also. What's the craic?

Hug all your kids for me. Water all your plants. Defrost your
freezer.

Between the Poles

sabado Noche

And you can swallow

Or you can spit

You can throw it up

Or choke on it

And you can dream

So dream out loud

You know that your time is coming 'round

So don't let the bastards grind you down

-U2

I was teaching Maria this week and I asked her what bands she liked. One of the things I do with the students that's fun is studying song lyrics. They love it and it's a break for me too. So I asked her what bands she liked.

"I love oo-dose. You know them, oo-dose?"

"No, but I can find them on the Internet."

"You no know oo - dose. Bono, Edge?"

And then it hit me -U2. U is 'oo.' 2 is dos. Too funny.

It was a great week. Lots of teaching and lots of fun. I worked with Bank Santander and Ferring Pharmaceutical this week. But the buses in Spain are almost as degrading as in Jamiaca. They run whenever the hell they feel like. And then they jam you in. Luckily I don't need to take the bus for any of my regular gigs.

It's almost 10 on Saturday night. ALMOST time to go out. Went out with some friends I met through Laura last night. Tonight is kind of quiet. I'll probably just go to the Mural. There are fewer of us now, with Deidre gone. Some of the folks from the course we just don't really see anymore. And Laura's in California.

I guess it's the lull before the storm when Mel and Janet visit on Saturday. THAT's going to be one busy week - and fun as hell. I'm going to attempt some pics of the flat mates. Sydney ,myself, Kristen and Stuart. Sydney (Texas)doesn't live here, she just LIVES here. Always here. Kind of a lost dizzy chick.

Stuart is prancing around in shorts, showing off his newly shaved legs - a scary proposition. He did it for some type of Rugby reason. I understand the ankle, but I don't fucking understand the rest of his leg, or the left one. Madrid is a frightening place.

There's a lunar eclipse tonight, viewable only form Asia and Europe. Sorry. I'll try and take and pic.

Otherwise, all is well. I'll start my full time teaching gigs this week. Should be interesting

.

2/3/O7

I survived my massive week of teaching. Deidre's gone. Mel and Janet will be here next week!!!! I feel more comfortable every day. Fin de semana! Hooray. have a good one!

Comings and Goings

I don’t believe what I’m hearing! Obi Wan was right. You’ve changed. Anakin, you’re breaking my heart. You’re going down a path I can’t follow! -Padme Amidala “Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith” FIN DE SEMANNA Big week ahead. 30 hours of teaching. Yeah! Waking up at 7 AM – eek! That’s what time I went to bed tonight. It was a good weekend. I hung out with Deidre and friends she used to work with who were on a trip to Madrid. The really bizarre thing is that some of them were in the hotel bar since 11 AM. It was 10:30 PM and they had never left the hotel lobby. “That’s the fucking Irish for you.” She said. When she finally pried them away from the hotel, they wanted to go to O’Neill’s, an Irish pub! We split off from them and went for some sangria at two little Spanish places and just rapped. Then we had one last belt at a club when the bars closed at 3 AM. Just call me “Dr. Saturday Night Fever.” But it was nice. Deidre, maybe my best friend left from the course, is going home. She was ready to stay, even after her mum and she got mugged, but then she had another incident on Wednesday. She was on the Metro, going to work, when some Metro police were randomly checking people with monthly passes. Deidre had bought one on the first of the month, but then had part of it stolen (by a metro clerk!) when her sister handed it to him. Born thieves. The pass is called “ABONO” ( Kristen and Sydney always call it A BONER). There are different zones here in Madrid for the buses as they run further and further outside Madrid’s core. (A1, B1) and it was her B1 stamp that got swiped. Somehow she found another B1 stamp, but the name didn’t match when the police checked her. I’ve NEVER seen metro police check people’s passes. Anyway, they pull her off and start questioning her. Her Spanish is well below mine. They are questioning her and she tries to tell them “No Habla.” In English, a cop tells her “You’re in Spain, speak Spanish!” If only it were that easy your obtuse Iberian mongrel. So she’s had enough. Can’t say I blame her, but I’ll miss her. But I’m going to stay with her for a week or so in Ireland in July. Finally, I will get to see Ireland. Saturday I did wash and ironed stuff. Then Deidre, Stuart and I went to Finnigan’s to watch Six Nations Rugby. Ireland dismantled England, which the bar’s patrons relished, as did I. Then I had a burger and went down to Sol to meet my friend Laura. She looked great in this little black dress. “I never where dresses,” she told me. “Doesn’t she look great?” her French flat mate asked me. The wheels begin turning. I met her friends at cervezaria, most of them are studying Spanish here. There were Dutch, Americans and French Then we went out to a club and Laura and I danced to house music til 6 AM. As a drummer, I find the rhythms offensive, but when you’re dancing with a cool little hottie, why not? I believe we have now entered the “courting phase,” Whatever the hell that is. Cock and hen. Cock and balls! Geometry is fucking easier. She seems to like me, and I like her, so we’ll just see what happens. I mean, what the hell do I know? I’ve been on the sidelines for 15 years. And she is 13 years younger than me, which makes her 25. Fuck. I am old. But I sure am having fun! (TO BE CONTINUED) So, this is my life in Spain. I like it. I spent this afternoon (Sunday) preparing my lessons and such. Pulling laundry off the line. Waving at my jeans in the tree. You know how it is. But life is fun, with everyday filled with mystery. What else can you ask for? How bout some freaking bullfights!!!! (They start in late March – Ole!) **** Lunes, Feb 26thANAKIN: I pledge myself to your teachings…master. EMPEROR PALPATINE: Good. Good! The force is string with you, young Skywalker. A powerful Sith you shall become. Henceforth, you shall be known as Darth…Vader. ANAKIN: Yes, my master. EMPEROR PALPATINE: Rise -“Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith” WHAT’S THE CRAIC? A Craic is a good time in Irish. Or “what’s up?” But you don’t use a preposition. So Stuart would say, “Last night, that was good craic (Meaning: Last night, that was a good time). The first time he said it, I politely informed him that crack in the US is a hell of a different thing ant he would be Interventioned in the states if he said that. And “What’s the craic?”, is the “What’s up” version. It’s slipped into my colloquial because Stuart never stops talking. He keeps jabbering even after you are out of the room. But he’s hysterical. I do whole lesson plans where he’s just chattering away and he knows I drift in and out. In and out, like the tide. Like the giant undertow. Deidre leaves Thurs., and bummed I am. We’ll see her for one last send off tomorrow. What else. Time flies by. Bridges burn and big wheels turn (Triumph). I taught 7 hours today, which was great! It’s just the metro to bus to taxi thing is kind of schizoid. The bus was a half an hour late today. It was my first day at this company, Ferring, a pharmaceutical company. I was 20 minutes late and stressed at being so, but then I thought, “Hey, I was here when the company I work for told me to be here. It’s FREAKING SPAIN! Screw it.” The guy I was there to teach didn’t show up for ten minutes after I got there. He was like “no problema.” I taught him grammar, reading comp, vocab and listening comp for 4 hours. Then it took me 40 minutes to get a cab to go to the next palce (both are further outside the city, which none of my steady classes are, so it’s all Metro accessible. I got there with a minute to spare and taught substitute classes for three hours. The only problem was I didn’t bring lunch. They had machines there, but no one had change. So I finally ate at six. I also most ate my own pinky finger on the bus ride home. I finally got something at the Metro station. What else? Toilet seat broke, while Kristen was on it. We heard SMASH, then plastic on tile, then someone hitting the ground and then “Mother fucker!” She was fine, so in retrospect, it was hilarious. I put a new toilet seat on. Into exile I must go. Failed I have. -Yoda “ Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith” I try to take a walk around the barrio on Domingo. Cruise around the hood and check in on my peeps (Actually, my only peeps are at the Mural Bar, and that doesn’t open til 9 PM on Sunday). But I do see the families out in the parks and kids playing football. The weather has been beautiful, high 50’s, a few days in the 60’s. I saw another cherry blossom starting to bloom on Domingo. Our furniture here is so uncomfortable. So we’re going to try to build our own out of pillows and stuff. Luckily it will be close to the ground if it ever falls! We will see. I am more than a shade dubious. Stuarts swears he can do it, but he only swore on sheep, pretty low on the farmer’s totem pole. On that note; one of Laura’s favorite phrases is ‘goat fuck.’ Goat fuck; noun: 1- a disaster ie, that club was a complete goat fuck. I’m not making this up. I don’t think I could. That girl is trouble. It’s like a train wreck. I fear to watch yet I cannot look away. We will take the girl. My wife and I have always talked of adopting a baby girl. She will be loved with us - Senator Organna Our flat is at the TETUAN Metro stop off of line 1. The neighborhood is “Little Peru.” With lots of immigrants. It’s the big city. What else can I tell you that you don’t already know? Music!! New Porcupine Tree album in April and a European tour. Kick Ass! Best of the newer progressive rock bands. And Rush comes out with a new album; “Snakes and Arrows” on May 1, also with a North American Tour. How sweet is that? Time for bed. I have clean sheets finally! Stu and Kristen but me what they thought was two sheets, but was just a bottom. What the hell is wrong with those Ikea people anyway? Deidre gave me her top sheets cause she’s leaving. Heavy listening rotation: Ani DiFranco Porcupine Tree Joni Mitchell Ozric Tentacles Liz Phair Porcupine Tree Rush Pink Floyd Djam Karat Well, it’s March now. Holy shit. Tempus fugit. We hope to have Internet at the house soon, so I´ll be a lot more accessible.